In its second episode, the behemoth TV series struggles to find an original voice and an identity.
In no universe do Abrar ul Haq, Zeb Bangash, Shuja Haider and Rachel Viccaji qualify as new voices found by Coke Studio anymore. So, on that count alone, this episode loses some serious points.
Now we come to the songs, beginning with Abrar-ul-Haq – whose remake of ‘Billo’ was completely and totally unnecessary – much like his presence on the show, since he has appeared on it on a number of occasions and usually finds a way to showcase a dud. ‘Billo’ evoked nostalgia and a time gone by but beyond that, it felt unneeded.
‘Billo’ of course is historic. It jump-started Abrar ul Haq’s career and for a time remained a huge hit. A cover version – the remake – is exactly what we’ve come to expect from Coke Studio but the sound lacked real verve and the ability to really surprise a listener.
The worst offender, however, is Zeb Bangash’s ‘Roshe’, which was meant to be an ode to loss in Kashmir.
When Zeb and Bangash released ‘Dadra’ as a response to a bomb blast in Lahore with a subtle music video by Umar Riaz, it created a sense of hope, whether that was meant to be the message of the song or not.
For a show that claims to be apolitical, ‘Roshe’ has been sung for the people of Kashmir but that feels a little like playing to the gallery since the series and Kashmir atrocities have nothing in common. It feels patronizing. this episode, you will be moved to ask yourself, where are the light-toned songs as opposed to this narrative where every track is either politicized or has been bathing in religious, not spiritual, ideas and that wouldn’t be a problem except they don’t sound great.
Zeb Bangash sounded absolutely beautiful in Azaan Sami Khan’s Superstar soundtrack recently in the song ‘Bekaraan’ so you have to wonder if Coke Studio has become a place where artists try just a little too hard and experience great numbers on YouTube and carry the notion of what the show has become to them.
Of the three highly unnecessary songs, the one featuring Shuja Haider and Rachel Viccaji is the closest to a bearable track. And that isn’t saying much. With the comeback of films and the rise of television, a major avenue of music has opened. With young Turks like Azaan Sami Khan, Jamal Rahman, and Saakin (behind the music of BIFF winner Zindagi Tamasha, an upcoming film by Sarmad Sultan Khoosat) producing the music and using artists like Ali Sethi, Zeb Bangash and so on, Coke Studio needed to think outside the box and that hasn’t happened yet.
A solo from Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, a Zoe Viccaji-Shahab Hussain number, it was ‘Maahi Diyaan Jhokaan’ by Barkat Jamal Fakir Troupe that had us hooked in the first episode.
In episode two, there isn’t a song that has that charm, but Atif Aslam’s ‘Wohi Khuda Hai’ rendition (season opener) has gone past 10 million plus and, in the end, those numbers are what make and break Coke Studio.
– Photos by Kohi Marri
